Union minister of state for rural development Agatha Sangma with the Shillong Chamber Choir in Mumbai. Telegraph picture

Shillong, Sept. 24: From the highest echelons to the grassroots, the people of the Northeast have joined hands to ensure the triumph of a group of musicians from Shillong in a national-level competition.

Drumming up support for the Shillong Chamber Choir, Union minister of state for rural development Agatha K. Sangma yesterday appealed to the people of the Northeast to vote for the group in the final of India’s Got Talent Khoj-2.

Agatha and her brother, legislator James K. Sangma, visited the members of the choir in West Goregaon, Mumbai to extend their best wishes before the grand finale on October 2. The choir also performed for Agatha.

She appealed to the Northeast and all music lovers to send text messages in support of the choir. The voting lines for the grand finale of the reality show will open from 10pm tomorrow and will close 15 minutes after the final act on October 2. The conditions for voting will be announced at 9pm tomorrow.

The final will be held in Mumbai and telecast live.

The euphoria over the show even prompted Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma and his wife to vote for the choir 99 times.

Different groups in the region have been going all out to garner support for Neil Nongkynrih’s team. Shillong Art and Music Lovers’ Forum chairperson J.L. Das said they were in touch with mobile service providers to counter the congestion during the voting period, which has left several individuals frustrated.

“We appeal to the people to avoid last-minute voting so that congestion is reduced,” Das said.